A week before the start of the regular season, the 49ers are still wheeling and dealing.
San Francisco has traded a 2019 fifth round draft pick in exchange for Lions offensive guard Laken Tomlinson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Terms: The #Lions trade guard Laken Tomlinson to the #49ers for a 5th rounder in 2019, sources tell @MikeGarafolo and me.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2017
According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, Tomlinson is expected to be a Week 1 starter at left guard over the below average Zane Beadles. 49ers were extremely weak at the guard last year, and it has been a position of issue during training camp. Tomlinson will likely start alongside right guard Brandon Fusco.
He can be expected to be in the #49ers starting lineup in Week 1. https://t.co/R6kXk3e7sL
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 31, 2017
He has experience at left guard. I think that’s where he will play with the 49ers, in place of Zane Beadles. https://t.co/GjQuYV3IHr
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 31, 2017
Interestingly new 49ers executive Martin Mayhew drafted Tomlinson when he was the Lions’ general manager in 2015. Tomlinson, 25, has started in 24 of 32 NFL games throughout his two-year career, after being drafted 28th overall out of Duke. The advanced numbers have not been kind to Tomlinson, who has graded as one of the worst offensive guards in football for the past two seasons according to Pro Football Focus, especially struggling as a run blocker.